A fashion blog for the bookworm.
This book cover was what I styled for my new year look. A clean no fuss look, unlike this book.
I stuck to the green colour palette with this duo chrome dress that was another Boxing Day steal! I loved the spaghetti straps and low-back that made it simple yet classy.
I chose to pair it with black sheer stockings and black boots for a clean sophisticated look.
No self-respecting bookshelf is complete without some Fitzgerald in it so of course I styled one of these beautiful new hardback editions published by Penguin to mark the 70th anniversary of the prolific American writer’s death.
One of his best loved works made even more popular with the movie, ‘The Great Gatsby’, is quintessential Fitzgerald. The extravagant jazz age and the hopelessness beneath the glamour is poignantly captured by this novel and it is one of my favourite books of his.
So, here’s my take on the champagne evoking cover—A white turtleneck paired with a belted skirt, accessorised with a printed scarf for a pop pf colour!
Everyone loves a good scarf and these printed ones look so chic that they should be a staple in every woman’s wardrobe. Keeps you both warm and classy!
This look is perfect for the weather which is still pretty chilly. (prays for summer to come soon) It makes for a perfect workplace outfit that can easily transition to a classy happy hour look! It’s all about versatility.
Accessorise! When wearing neutral colours you can have some fun with your accessories so I chose to go with a simple gold chain and a floral printed scarf that topped off the look perfectly.
This accordion pleated skirt was a recent Boxing Day buy from Primark, which was a steal for £7! Who could have guessed!? The belt adds to the charm and the length is perfect for winter. I’ve paired it with my trusty black boots here because comfort is a priority.
Did you like my look by the book? Let me know in the comments below!
2019 was a great year for books and fashion. I’ve complied my favourite book covers and fashion looks from the red carpet and runways last year and put them side by side so your eyes are in for a treat! You’ll find that a lot of styles, methods and colours were used in both mediums, showing just how much your looks can be inspired by books.
One of the images of the year was definitely JLo’s internet-breaking look in Versace’s SS20 show at Milan Fashion Week. This book cover designed by Grace Han brings to mind the prints and colours of that iconic look and for that I can’t look away.
This cover designed by Desi Pop Artist Maria Qamar in her signature style pointed to Christian Siriano’s love for Pop Art insprired clothing like Janelle Monae’s dress at the 2019 Met Gala, undoubtedly one of my favourite looks of the year.
Gwendoline Christie in Iris van Herpen is always a dream combo and goes perfectly next to Kelly Blair’s cover design of ‘The River’ by Peter Heller, doesn’t it? The similarity is uncanny which goes to show that design is universal no matter the medium, be it clothes or book covers.
Any best dressed list of 2019 would be incomplete without mentioning Timothée Chalamet and when he looks like one of my favourite covers of the year, the joy! Here he is at the premiere of ‘The King’, wearing Haider Ackermann and looking very much like Na Kim’s cover design for ‘High School’, the origin story of indie pop group Tegan and Sara. This look just screams “Minimalism but make it fashion”.
This book cover design by Nicole Caputo is one of my favourites this year, almost guaranteeing a book that would be picked up. Glad to have found Lupita Nyong’o at the Golden Globes wearing a starry Calvin Klein gown that most certainly reminds us of the stars on that cover.
André Aciman’s much-awaited sequel to the his hit ‘Call Me By Your Name’, where we all fell in love with Timothée Chalamet’s ‘Elio’, came out last year as well. This warm cover design by Rodrigo Corral takes us to a European summer and we see Margot Robbie in this tan Oscar de la Renta gown that reminds me the same colour palette.
A medley of bright colours was also popular on book covers and red carpets in 2019. Zazie Beetz at the Venice Film Festival in this exquisite Valentino gown can be perfectly juxtaposed next to Jodi Picoult’s latest book, with cover design by Laura Klynstra.
2019 was undoubtedly the year of Lizzo but it was also the year that ‘The Testaments’—Margaret Atwood’s much awaited sequel to ‘The Handmaiden’s Tale’—hit the shelves. I found the perfect Lizzo nod to this cover design by Noma Bar & Suzanne Dean, in her neon green Christopher John Rogers dress and white sneakers, at the MTV Movie & TV Awards.
Emily Blunt in this stunning Michael Kors gown is the stuff of red carpet dreams. I mean, just look at the neck detail! Next to that we have the cover designed by Erin Fitzsimmons with art by Laura Breiling, for ‘UNpregnant’, a timely, coming of age story that looks at women’s autonomy over their bodies.
Jonathan Gray’s cover design for Rushdie’s latest ‘Quichotte’ is aptly in the colour of obsession—red, which was also one of the most popular colours to wear in 2019. Just look at Dua Lipa in this Valentino with a twist, asymmetrical, feathered red gown at the amfAR Cannes Gala in Cap d’Antibes, France.
Have any looks that was not on this list? Let me know in the comments below!
My next book cover that I’ll be styling is ‘Ikigai’ which is Japanese for ‘a reason to jump out of bed each morning’. Perfect for end of the year reflections, don’t you think?
I went with a printed blouse and white treggings, accessorised with black boots and backpack. I know that we’re far away from spring but I couldn’t be happier to incorporate some florals to add a pop of colour to the otherwise bleak British winter days.
Florals are in next season so you can’t go wrong with this pastel blouse with faint bishop sleeves in my book. White flowers on blue gave the ‘Ikigai’ touch to it.
By now you know how obsessed I am with pockets and this outfit does not disappoint there. Cute pockets with metal accents give it the sleek sophistication that you’d look for in chic work wear.
A bright look, inspired by a bright book to end the year. You can take away some style inspo from this post or just pick up this positive book to start off 2020 on a bright note. Let me know how that works for you in the comments below!
For my next look I picked the cover of Sophia Amoruso’s book #GIRLBOSS. A blend of pink and power is a combination I love so of course I had to style it!
One of the staples of a power wardrobe for any woman is a jumpsuit. It works so well, I can’t stress the importance of having a solid jumpsuit in your wardrobe.
I kept this look very minimal and that’s the best thing about jumpsuits. It’s the while outfit! There’s no hassle of matching the top and bottom. It’s just one piece of clothing and you’re sorted.
Since I had to step out and London was getting colder by the day, I paired it with my favourite grey jacket from New Look, (a great charity store find ofc).
The jumpsuit itself has a sophisticated look with a surplice collar and a tie-up waist. Bonus: It has pockets! And you know how I love my pockets.
The bottomline is that give a girl a good jumpsuit and watch her inner #GIRLBOSS rule!
Je t’aime trop
This week I’m styling the UK cover of Alicia Drake’s debut novel, ‘I Love You Too Much’, designed by Justine Anweiler.
For a book set in Paris, how could I go with anything less than chic? So I chose a printed yellow blouse that matched the cover’s mellow yellow and basic black jeans with a dogtooth-patterned blazer. I could fit right into a Parisian fall landscape wearing this.
I accessorised this look with brown zippered boots, my rose gold watch and a shoulder bag that’s both handy and cute. (Pro tip: Always choose a bag that can fit at least one book to carry with you where ever you go.)
My favourite part of this look were my round metal-rimmed glasses! It really tied together the whole office casual look I was going for. What is it about glasses that make you feel so smart?
The dogtooth-pattern blazer was one of my favourite finds at H&M recently. Bonus: It had pockets! Honestly, pockets are the one thing that can make or break an outfit purchase decision for me. For a twenty-something girl, not having an outfit with pockets can be SO inconvenient. So, whether it’s blazers, skirts, trousers or jumpsuits, it’s always a ‘Yes’ to pockets.
I had so much fun styling this look. Let me know what you thought of it. And what book cover do you want me to style next? Let me know in the comments! x
Smoke & Gold
My first look is inspired by Madeline Miller’s book Circe.
The elements I decided to incorporate into my look is the black and the gold. Since the book was about Circe, a sorceress from Greek Mythology, I decided I’d include drapes into the look. Also, since it was Diwali I thought it would be perfect to style a look with my saree! (A great excuse to wear it actually)
While styling this look I realised that I could totally wear this to a Diwali party. It was quirky but absolutely functional, which I didn’t expect when I pictured it in my head. The saree is a gold silk tissue material I’d brought from India but the treggings and tank top you can get from any high street store. I’m blown away by the versatility of sarees now that’ve figured out how to wear it with pants. So, if you ever need to go to an Indian party and fretting about wearing a saree just do it pant-style!
The hardest part about styling this look was draping the saree. Traditionally a saree is worn with a petticoat at the bottom to hold the pleats in place but I worked with the black tights and lots of pins of course!
I replaced the usual blouse with a black tank top and complemented it by draping the saree as a blouse which gives the effect of a high neck. Since I styled it with leggings, I didn’t have to wrap it around myself twice, leaving me with a lot of material to go around my neck and function as a blouse.
Looks By The Book